Mixing Up Bold Patterns: Plaid and Paisley

from He Spoke Style - Men's Style, Fashion, Grooming, Tips and Advice

| WEARING | Suit c/o Reiss (last season, similar HERE), Shirt and pocket square c/o Ermengildo Zegna, Tie c/o Bows-N-Ties, Tom Ford glasses, Tiffany cufflinks, David Donahue tie clip, Shoes c/o Allen Edmonds | PHOTOGRAPHY | by Rob McIver Photo

Bold patterns can often be challenging to style. That’s true when you’re talking about a single pattern, and even more so when dealing with multiple bold patterns. How well you work with patterns has as much to do with your style experience as it has to do with confidence — one is often a product of the other. If you’re just starting to explore pattern mixing, here are a couple tips to help you along.

Get the Look

You can create the best balance with patterns of different sizes and densities. Here, the windowpane plaid is large, but thin. The paisley, on the other hand, is smaller and very dense. They work well together because one is not “competing” with the other. Think about pairing patterns together in the same way you’d choose a pocket square or tie for an outfit — they should always complement each other, rather than match too closely.

And remember that mixing patterns should be fun. Whether you’re working with two or even three different patterns, don’t be afraid to have one of them be slightly over the top. Done right, it looks confident and says that you’re in command of your style. Paisley has been my flashy pattern of choice recently.

Thanks for reading.

Stylishly Yours,

Brian
He Spoke Style

The post Mixing Up Bold Patterns: Plaid and Paisley first appeared on the men's style blog He Spoke Style - Men's Style, Fashion, Grooming, Tips and Advice